A bill that would prohibit counties or localities from implementing a gun buyback program received preliminary approval from the Texas Senate on Monday.
Additionally, the idea aims to prevent local governments from funding or planning such a program.
It is a “necessary guardrail against misuse of local authority,” Edgewood state senator Bob Hall, a Republican, told lawmakers on Monday.
The frequently tense relationship between the state Legislature and local governments was a major topic of discussion during the House Bill 3053 debate. Republican lawmakers in the state have devoted several legislative sessions on controlling the Democratic-run municipal councils in the state’s main metropolitan areas.
Hall was asked by State Senator Royce West, a Democrat from Dallas, if a city council or the state should make decisions for a town.
According to Hall, the people are served equally by all tiers of government.
“I don’t agree that they always know what’s best for the people just because they’re closest to them,” Hall stated.
According to West, the law usurps the power of city council members to decide on behalf of their constituents.
According to Hall, the purpose of the law is to ensure that funds are not squandered on “ineffective” initiatives. It was deemed terrible policy by West.
“What you’re doing is telling people the government closest to the people is not best for them,” West stated.
State politicians are stewards of state funds, but not city funds, according to state senator Roland Gutierrez, a Democrat from San Antonio.
“No disrespect, but how dare you come to me and tell me what the City of San Antonio should do with their tax dollars?” Gutierrez asked.
Gutierrez went on to outline a number of recent Republican-sponsored proposals that he believes cross the line into big government territory, including the F.U.R.R.I.E.S. Act, renaming the Gulf of Mexico, and social media bans.
The virtues of buy-back schemes, which Hall referred to as “ineffective,” were the subject of other debate segments. Additionally, he said that the broadcasts implied that it was illegal to own a gun.
Jose Menendez, a Democrat from San Antonio, stated that gun buybacks in his city and Houston had been beneficial. In San Antonio, the volunteer initiative traded firearms for gift cards.
“People were happy to take something that was going unused and exchange it for something they could take care of their family with,” Menendez stated.
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In response, Hall said, “it’s not the role of government to go out and buy people’s guns in order for them to be able to buy their food.”
State Senator Borris Miles, a Democrat from Houston, raised the issue of persons wanting to get rid of antique weaponry or collections left by departed family members. Miles questioned how this could be accomplished without buyback programs. Hall reiterated that they could sell the firearms, but Miles pointed out that the scenario is actually more hazardous than Hall believes. According to Miles, some residents of his neighborhood would have no choice but to dispose of them in the trash.
“One solution doesn’t fit all,” Miles stated. “Everybody doesn’t go to gun shows, everybody doesn’t know how to go online or have computer access to sell a firearm.”
Before the bill is finally approved, the Senate will vote on it one more time.
